Rise of a Football Prodigy

Richard's next few games weren't as explosive, but he was consistent. A key pass here, a clever run there—small but important contributions.

His Pirlo card remained inactive outside of official matches, but the permanent boost from using it once made a difference. His vision, passing, and composure under pressure were sharper.

After training, Coach Van Gorp pulled him aside.

"You're adapting well, Blake. But football isn't just about moments—it's about control. Keep improving, and you'll run the show, not just play in it."

Richard nodded. He already knew that. He wasn't here for flashes of brilliance. He was here to dominate.

---

LEAGUE STANDINGS

A month into the season, the Belgian League 2 table looked like this:

1. Zulte Waregem – 19 pts

2. Beerschot – 18 pts

3. Lommel SK – 16 pts

4. Beecroft – 15 pts

5. RWDM – 13 pts

Beecroft was in fourth place, just within playoff contention.

A good position. But not good enough.

Richard stared at the table in the locker room, jaw tightening. "Top two get automatic promotion," Luka reminded him.

Richard smirked. "Then we need to start winning more."

The day after his explosive debut, Richard woke up to dozens of messages. His phone buzzed nonstop—teammates, friends from Nigeria, and even some unknown numbers congratulating him.

But one message stood out.

Luka: Bro, check this out!

He sent a screenshot of a football forum discussing Richard's performance. Among the usual comments from fans, one user claimed that scouts from mid-table clubs in France, Spain, and Germany had taken notice.

Richard raised an eyebrow. Already?

It wasn't a big deal—yet. But it meant people were watching.

At training, Coach Van Gorp gathered the squad.

"You all did well, but don't let it get to your heads. One good game means nothing if you can't follow it up. We have bigger challenges ahead."

Richard could feel eyes on him. Luka smirked, Jasper nudged him. The team was beginning to see him as something special.

Later that evening, an article from a small Belgian sports outlet caught his eye.

'Beecroft's Blake: The Next Big Thing or Just Another One-Game Wonder?'

Richard leaned back and smirked. Let them doubt.

He wasn't here to fade away.

He was here to take over.

Richard's next few games weren't as explosive, but he was consistent. A key pass here, a clever run there—small but important contributions.

His Pirlo card remained inactive outside of official matches, but the permanent boost from using it once made a difference. His vision, passing, and composure under pressure were sharper.

After training, Coach Van Gorp pulled him aside.

"You're adapting well, Blake. But football isn't just about moments—it's about control. Keep improving, and you'll run the show, not just play in it."

Richard nodded. He already knew that. He wasn't here for flashes of brilliance. He was here to dominate.

---

LEAGUE STANDINGS

The Belgian League 2 table looked like this:

1. Zulte Waregem – 19 pts

2. Beerschot – 18 pts

3. Lommel SK – 16 pts

4. Beecroft – 15 pts

5. RWDM – 13 pts

Beecroft was in fourth place, just within playoff contention.

A good position. But not good enough.

Richard stared at the table in the locker room, jaw tightening. "Top two get automatic promotion," Luka reminded him.

Richard smirked. "Then we need to start winning more."

RICHARD BLAKE – SEASON STATS

Appearances: 5 (3 starts, 2 as a sub)

Goals: 2

Assists: 4

Key Passes: 10

Dribbles Completed: 7

He was making an impact, but he wanted more.

The atmosphere at Stade Edmond Machtens was tense. RWDM, sitting just below Beecroft in the standings, was desperate for a win. Their fans were loud, their press was aggressive, and their tackles were hard.

Richard felt it immediately. Every time he touched the ball, a midfielder closed him down. They knew he was the danger man now.

"Blake's struggling to get on the ball," the commentator noted. "RWDM is pressing him high, cutting off passing lanes. Smart strategy."

Richard hated it. He wasn't here to be marked out of the game. He was here to control it.

---

FIRST HALF – RWDM STRIKES FIRST

20th minute. RWDM's striker, Jonas Declercq, found space in the box and rifled a shot past Beecroft's keeper. 1-0.

Beecroft tried to respond, but their passes were rushed. The pressure was getting to them.

Richard had one chance, picking up a loose ball and driving forward, but his through-ball to Luka was intercepted at the last second.

---

SECOND HALF – RICHARD TAKES OVER

Halftime. Coach Van Gorp pulled Richard aside.

"You're letting them dictate the game. Drop deeper, pick up the ball, and force them to chase you. Control the tempo."

Richard nodded. If they wanted to mark him, he'd make them run.

And it worked.

50th minute—Richard received the ball deep, turned, and sprayed a perfect cross-field pass to Jasper, who broke down the wing. The momentum shifted.

55th minute – Equalizer!

Richard threaded a killer pass between two defenders, setting up Luka for a one-on-one finish. 1-1!

"There's the playmaker we've been waiting for!" the commentator shouted.

RWDM looked shaken. Beecroft kept pushing.

---

88th MINUTE – THE DECISIVE PENALTY

Richard made a driving run into the box. RWDM's center-back panicked and lunged in.

WHISTLE! PENALTY!

The stadium roared. Richard picked up the ball. The usual taker, Luka, looked at him.

"You taking it?" Luka asked.

Richard nodded. "I got this."

He placed the ball down. Deep breath.

Shot fired—bottom corner! The keeper dived the wrong way. GOAL!

2-1 Beecroft. Richard Blake. Ice cold.

---

POST-MATCH REACTIONS

Commentator 1: "What a second half from Blake! He controlled the midfield, assisted the first goal, and had the confidence to take that penalty."

Commentator 2: "Beecroft has found their leader in midfield."

In the locker room, Luka grinned. "Big-time player, huh?"

Richard just smirked. This was only the beginning.

The morning after Beecroft's win over RWDM, Richard woke up to an insane number of notifications. His penalty had gone viral—clips of his ice-cold finish, his smirk after scoring, and the commentators hyping him up were all over social media.

Luka and Jasper weren't letting it slide.

At breakfast, Luka held up his phone. "Look at this dude."

The video played—Richard walking to the penalty spot in slow motion, overlaid with the "Sigma Male Grindset" song.

Jasper burst out laughing. "Bro, you got the 'Main Character Edit' treatment."

Richard rolled his eyes. "I swear, y'all need new hobbies."

"Oh, we got hobbies," Luka smirked. "Like reminding you that you almost shanked that pen."

Jasper clapped his hands. "Yeah, that stutter-step had me nervous, man."

Richard shook his head, stealing a slice of toast from Luka's plate. "That's crazy. Y'all hating while eating breakfast I paid for."

Jasper choked on his juice. "Wait—what?"

Richard grinned. "I got the match-winning goal, right? That means I paid for this meal… with greatness."

Luka groaned. "Bro thinks he's Ronaldo."

---

LATER THAT DAY – A TRIP TO THE CITY

Since they had a free afternoon, Jasper invited Richard and Luka to explore Brussels.

First stop – a famous waffle shop.

Richard took one bite and nearly ascended. "Yo. This is fire."

Luka, mouth full, nodded. "Belgian waffles, man. Can't beat 'em."

Jasper smirked. "Better than Nigerian jollof?"

Silence.

Richard slowly put his waffle down. "I beg, no disrespect me."

Luka looked at Jasper like he had just committed a crime. "Bro, you wanna get us deported?"

---

NEXT STOP – SHOE STORE

Jasper spotted a fresh pair of Nike Mercurials, but the price tag made him wince.

"Damn. My wallet ain't built for this."

Richard, knowing his system would reward him for generosity, decided to mess with him.

"If you do 20 push-ups right here, I'll buy them for you."

Jasper hesitated, then shrugged. "Bet."

The dude dropped to the floor and started pushing.

Security walked over. "Uh… what's going on?"

Luka, trying not to laugh, said, "Endurance training."

Richard struggled to keep a straight face. "For the mental battle on the pitch."

Security just stared.

Jasper finished, stood up sweating, and Richard handed the cashier his card.

"Respect, bro. You earned it."

Jasper grinned. "Hey, next time, I'll do 50 for a Rolex."

Richard laughed. "Calm down, bro."

---

END OF THE DAY – LOCKER ROOM CHAOS

Back at the club, the team was in high spirits. The RWDM win had boosted morale, and Richard was getting more comfortable around the squad.

As he walked in, Luka whispered, "Watch this."

He casually strolled up to Beecroft's goalkeeper, Pieter, and asked, "Bro, what's your hand size?"

Pieter frowned. "Uh… normal?"

Luka handed him a bottle. "Hold this real quick."

As soon as Pieter grabbed it, Luka snatched the cap and dumped ice water on his head.

The locker room exploded. Pieter shouted something in Dutch and started chasing Luka around.

Richard shook his head, laughing. "I swear, this team is unserious."